This panel will provide a forum to take a fresh look at themes and forms of early African American poetry (the influence of African oral traditions and cultural practice; the use of classical forms and allusions; racial realism; epic, allegoric, elegiac, and dialect poetry, etc.,) and to explore innovative ways to engage our students in poetry written by African Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Proposals for papers that discuss courses designed with a strong emphasis on classroom performance, collaborative student projects, or integration of computers and digital resources into course format are especially welcome. Papers should describe pedagogical goals of classroom praxis, discuss the integration of resources such as visual and audio media, e-texts, the Internet, etc., and include examples of in-class and/or on-line activities.